WORK IN COAL MINES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2883, 22 September 1916, Page 7

WORK IN COAL MINES

DEPUTATION TO THE MINISTER. A series of requests wero put to tho Minister of Mines (the Hon. W. D. S. Mac Donald) on behalf of the Coal Miners' Federation of ISfew Zealand, which recently sat' in conference in Wellington. The requests wero as follow:— . (1) That the Coal Mines Act bo amended so that not more than one pair of men. shall ho allowed to work on ono pillar at one time. (2) That the Coal Mines Act ho amended so that no person shall "bs allowed to work moro than eight hours in tho twenty-four, except in the case of accident, and that a penalty he attached to the section embodying J;his. (3) That a central rescue station bo established in each mining district, with up-to-date appliances, and that at least 6 por cent, of coalmines ho trained in the use of the appliances. (4) That tho Government insist on the use of more up-to-dato safety lamps on account, of tho minors not being able to see' the roof in high places with those in uso at present in most collieries, (o) That an adequato supply, of fresh drinking water shall be supplied in all sections of a coal mine, as in gold mines. (6) That the subsection in the Act be deleted in reference to weighing coal. (7) That tho Federation endeavour" to havo a provision inserted in the Coal Mines Act to.provide Tor State-paid deputies. Tho Minister said that the Government, both in regard -'.to tho State mines and_tho privately-owned mines, was doing its best to improve the conditions of the miners. It was only a lew weeks igo that an expert from another country said there, were : no mines in tho world where the men worked under such good, conditions. The Government intended, however, to tho condition of affairs as far as possible. As to the eight hours day that was a recognised condition, but it was a question whether tlio present proposal would benefit or injure the miner. In the State coal mines last year the average hours worked por day were 4 hours 43 minutes, with an average wage of 18s. lOd. per day. In regard to the other proposals' lie promised to havo reports made and to givo the matters tho fullest consideration.